Track-cleaning machine.



W. W. LAMB.

TRACK CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 5, 1010 RENEWED SEPT, 23, 1912.

Patented Maw 13, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILBERT W. LAMB, OF ALHAMBRA. CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMB RAILWAYSERVICE COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TRACK-CLEANING MACHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 191 3.

Application filed January 5, 1910, Serial No. 536,468. Renewed September23, 1912. Serial No. 721,924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVImsnR'r WV. LAM'B, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Alhambra, county of Los Angeles, and StateofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Track CleaningMachines, of which the following is a specification. g I

My invention relates primarily, to a machine for melting the snow fromrailroad tracks or streets or roads, although its use is not restrictedto that purpose, and the 1 object thereof is to produce a machine havinggreat heat producing" capacity which can be operated by liquidhydro-carbon fuel in the coldest of weather.

' I have illustrated my device as applied to a railroad car, but it canbe mounted upon other'forms of running gear to use upon burner cylinder.Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 8. Figs. 6 and 7 are detailviews of the generating tubes of the vaporizing coil.

In the drawings 10 may be an ordinary fiat railroad car upon the rearend of which is secured the liquid hydro-carbon fuel tank 11 which issupplied with compressed air at-the top thereof through a hose 12, whichis connected up to the ordinary air pipes not shown, or to any othersuitable compressed air supply.

lilis a liquid hydro-carbon i uel supply pipe which leads from near thebottom of the fuel tank and connects to the generating coil 14, which islocated in the lower half of the burner cylinder, the size of this pipedepending upon the capacity of the machine.

In the drawings I have shown two burner cylinders as I consider that tobe an appropriate number for a machine for use in melting snow upon arailway track.

When more than one burner cylinder is used pipe 13branchesnear thecylinders and a branch runsto each vaporizing coil of which there is onein each burner cylcan be had to the interimof the generating tube forthe insertion and removal of the vaporizing web it) and for cleaning thesame. This vaporizing web is preferably in the form of a cross, as bestshown in Fig. 7, and practically divides the tube into four channcls 20.At suitable distances these channels are connected by kerts or grooves21 cut in the outer edges of the web, as best shown in Fig. (3. Theother side of the vaporizing coil is connected by suitable fittings tothe .icedlc tllVt. 22 which controls the discharge of vapor into theburner cylinder 15. The rear end of the burner cylinder is partiallyclosed leaving a central port 23 into which the vapor is discharged fromthe needle valve, thereby ent'aining a certain amount of air into theburner cylinder. When the vapor is lighted it burns with a strong flamewhich heats up the interior of the burner odinder, thereby vaporizingthe liquid fuel passing through the vaporizing coil.

The burner cylinder is preferably provided on the lower side thereofwith rows of pert'oratnms 24 through which airis drawn to aid thecomlmstion of the vapor which is to become heated and to be forced out,

through the outer end of the burner cylinder against the snow and ice onthe track, thereby melting the same. It. will be understood thatsiiitable provision will be made to heat the vaporizing coil before themachine starts to work, such as by a fire either in or under the burnercylinder. The burner cylinders are carried by the burner frame 25 whichis pivotally connected at 26 to the derrick 27. The derrick is mountedon wheels 28, which wheels run upon a. track 29 formed of U- shaped ironsecured upon the platform of the car, the tread of the wheels running inthe channel 30 of the track. In the bottom of the derrick frame ismounted an air cylinder 31 which 'is rigidly secured to the derrickframe. Extending longitinlinally through the cylinder and projecting ateach end thereof is a piston stem 32 which is secured to bearings 33mounted upon the platform of the car. This piston stem carries a pistonnot shown, within the cylinder which has a working fit'therein. Theopposite ends of the air cylinder are connected by pipe 34 in which ismounted a four way valve'35 by a piston not shown, which is providedwith means of which either end of the piston can valve 35 to the frontend of asecond air cylinder 38 which may be termed the height regulatingair cylinder. .Pipe 37 is provided with a three way valve 39 by means ofwhich the cylinder is thrown to pressure or exhaust'as desired. .Thiscylinder carries 'a piston stem 40, which is connected by a flexiblecable .41 with rods 42 which are secured to the front end of the burnerframe,

Cable 41 runs over a sheave 43 mounted on the derrick frame. Theburner'frame also carries rods 44 having eyes 45 through which.

pass chains 46. One end of each chain 46 carries a book 47 by means ofwhich the length of the chain can. be regulated. The

other end of the chain is secured to the derrick. By means of these lastrods and chains the burner frame is secured atits adj usted height, theadjustment being obtained by means of cylinder and connected mechanism.By means of cylinder 38 the burner frame can be carried to the horizontal position in which position it is adapted to be run rearwardly uponthe car. Air can then be admitted into theinn'er end of cylin-- der 31when the derrick carry ing theburner frame will be caused to travelrearwardly on the car, 'in which position it is ready for transportationfrom one point to another By admitting air into the upper end ofcylinder 41, the derrick isrun to the position shown in the drawingsthereby carrying the burner frame projecting beyond the car; Its heightis then adjusted by means of cylinder 38 and it is then secured in the.

adjusted position by-means of the rods and chains, after which the coilsare heated and the fire is lighted whereupon the machine is ready foruse.

. It will be observed thatthe vaporizingcoilis protected by the burnercylinder from any drafts of wind or from any cold air, and that the fireburns within the burner cylinder near the outer end, thereby alwayskeeping the vaporizing coil in'a heated condition. I

prefer to use a high air pressure, say about 150 pounds upon the fuel inthe fuel tank,

thereby forcing the vapor into the burner cylinder with great power,which causes the air to be drawn into the burner cylinder and to beforced out of the same in a highly heated condition upon the snow andice on the track just in front of the burner cylin-.

ders. By this construction I have provided a highly efficient machinewhich can be operated in all kinds of weatheras the generating coil isfully protected from the weather.

It will be understood that a portion of pipe 13 will be made flexiblesoas to permit of themovementrof the derrick to and fro on theplatform ofthe car. lVithin the fuel tank, pipe '13 is provided with a self closingvalve 48 and a strainer 49. The air supply pipe is also provided withaself closing valve. These self closing valves are adapted to be lockedopen-when the machine is in operation, and the locking'means are subjectto the control of the operator so that in case of accidents, or when themachine is not in operation the valves may be closed. In my application534,981,filed-De-v cember 27th, 1909 I have shown a machine,

which by a slight modification could be used as above set forth. Havingdescribed my claim is:

1. The combination of a car invention what I latform and a derrickmounted thereon, wlth means to move saidderrick longitudinally uponth eplatform; a burner frame carrled by said derrick; a burner cylindermounted upon,

said burner frame, said burnercylinder being partially closed at therear end; a V3.4

por izing coil within said. burner cylinder, said vaporizing coilcomprising a plurality of connected tubes extending longitudinally ofthe cylinder; vaporizing webs within said generating tubes; aneedlevalve adapted to" discharge vapor into the rear end of saidburnercylinder; a connection from said needle valve to said vaporizing coil;and means to supply liquid hydro-carbon fuel to said coil underpressure.

2. Ina device of the character described herein, a running gear; aplatform mounted. upon said running gear; a derrick mounted ed upon saidburner frame; said burner cylinderhaving a port 1n its rear end; avaporizing (3011 within said burner cylinder,

said vaporizing coil comprising a pluralityof connected tubes extendinglongitudinally of the cylinder; vaporizing webs within said generatingtubes; aneedle valve adapted to discharge vapor into the port in therear end of said burner cylinder; a connection from said needle Valve tosaid vaporizing c011; and means to supply liquid hydro-carbon fuel tosaid 'coil under pressure.

3. In a device of the character described herein, a running gear; aplatform'mounted thereon; a derrick mounted on said platform; pneumaticmeans connected to said platform and to said derrick adapted to move thederrick frame longitudinally upon the platform; a burner framepivotallysecured tosaid derrick; means to adjust the elevation of saidburner frame; a burner cylinder mounted on said burner frame; saidburner cylinder being partially closed at the rear end; a vaporizingcoil within said burner cylinder; said vaporizing coil comprising aplurality of connected tubes extending longitudinally of the cylinder;vaporizing webs within said generating tubes; a needle valve ada tedtodischar e vapor into the rear end of said burner c5- inder; aconnection from said needle valve to said vaporizing coil; and means tosup ply liquid hydro-carbon fuel to said coil under pressure.

4. In a device of the'character described herein a burner cylinder, saidcylinder being partially closed at the rear end,- open at the front end,and having lon itudinal' rows of perforations in the side wa ls thereof;a vaporizing coil within Said cylinder, saidvaporizing coil com rising ap urality of connected tubes exten ing longitudinally of the saidcylinder; vaporizing webs within said generating tubes; a needle valveto dis charge vapor into the rear end of said burner cylinder saidneedle valve being exmeans to transport said burner cylinder and meansto supply liquid hydro-carbon fuel to said coil under pressure.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 30th day of December,

1909. WILBERT W. LAMB.

Witnesses G. E. HARPHAM, S. B. AUSTIN.

